5 Poker Hands You're PLAYING WRONG!
Summary
TLDRIn this poker strategy video, Nathan discusses the top five hands that players often mismanage, costing them significant money. He explains that Ace King is not a drawing hand but a strong one, advising a continuation bet post-flop. Pocket sevens can win without improving, and players should call, not raise, to keep potential bluffs in the game. Jack 10 suited should be played cautiously, folding to pressure from competent opponents. King Jack is often overplayed, and players should be wary of committing to large pots against tight opponents. Finally, Ace rag hands are generally weak and should be folded unless in a position to steal blinds, emphasizing the importance of understanding hand strength and playing accordingly.
Takeaways
- đ Ace King is not a drawing hand and is one of the strongest starting hands; it's advisable to make a continuation bet post-flop.
- đ° Pocket Sevens can win unimproved; it's often better to call rather than raise when facing a bet on a flop without a seven.
- đ€ Jack 10 suited is not a top pair hand; it's wise to fold against competent players who are betting aggressively post-flop.
- đ King Jack is often misplayed; it's crucial to recognize when to fold this hand against a tight player who raises on a coordinated board.
- đ Ace Rag hands (Ace with a low offsuit) are generally weak and should be played cautiously; it's better to fold pre-flop unless in a position to steal blinds.
- đ The importance of understanding the strength of your hand in relation to the board and your opponents' potential hands.
- â The significance of folding in poker, especially with hands that may appear strong but are vulnerable to better hands.
- đ« Avoiding the common mistake of playing big pots with hands that are not as strong as they initially seem.
- đĄ The value of recognizing when to apply pressure with continuation bets and when to back off and call.
- đ Keeping in mind the potential bluffs in your opponents' range and how to manage your hand accordingly.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video by Nathan?
-The main topic of the video is about the top five poker hands that players often play incorrectly, which can lead to significant financial losses at the poker tables.
Why does Nathan consider Ace King not a drawing hand?
-Nathan explains that Ace King is not a drawing hand because it is a nut no pair hand. It means that when holding Ace King and no one else at the table has a pocket pair, Ace King is the best hand due to starting with the two highest cards, giving a significant advantage.
What is the strategy Nathan suggests for playing Ace King post-flop?
-Nathan suggests making a continuation bet post-flop with Ace King to apply additional pressure on opponents, as it is ahead of any unpaired hand on the board.
How does Nathan view pocket sevens in poker?
-Nathan believes that pocket sevens can win unimproved, contrary to the common belief that a set (three sevens) is necessary to win big with this hand.
What mistake does Nathan often see players make with pocket sevens?
-Nathan observes that players often make the mistake of raising with pocket sevens when a fish bets into them, which can lead to losing out on potential wins from bluffs or weaker hands.
Why does Nathan advise against raising with Jack 10 suited when hitting top pair?
-Nathan advises against raising with Jack 10 suited when hitting top pair because it will only get action from better hands, and there's no benefit in playing a big pot with a hand that is good but not great.
What is the key takeaway when playing suited connectors like Jack 10 according to Nathan?
-The key takeaway is to understand the real strength of the hand and to play a small pot when hitting top pair, as these hands are not suited for large pots against competent players.
Why is King Jack considered the most misplayed hand in poker by Nathan?
-King Jack is considered the most misplayed hand because players often mistake a strong pair for a winning hand, especially on coordinated boards, where they can be significantly behind in the hand's strength.
What is the main issue with Ace rag hands according to Nathan?
-The main issue with Ace rag hands is that they have a bad kicker, which means if you hit top pair and your opponent also hits top pair, you are likely to be behind because they will have a better kicker.
What is Nathan's overall advice for playing Ace rag hands?
-Nathan advises against playing Ace rag hands in most situations, especially in tournaments or cash games, as they are often not strong enough to compete against competent players.
Outlines
đ Misplayed Poker Hands: Ace King to Ace Rag
In this video, Nathan educates viewers on the top five poker hands that are commonly played incorrectly, which can lead to significant financial losses. He emphasizes that Ace King is not a drawing hand but rather a strong hand that should be played aggressively post-flop, even without a pair. Nathan advises making a continuation bet with Ace King to maintain pressure on opponents. The video also covers the strategic approach to playing pocket sevens, suited connectors like Jack 10, and the often misplayed hands of King Jack and Ace Rag. Nathan stresses the importance of understanding hand strength in different board scenarios and adjusting play accordingly, whether it's making a continuation bet, calling, or folding to avoid losing large pots to stronger hands.
đ„ Playing Poker Hands Correctly: Strategy and Caution
Nathan continues his discussion on misplayed poker hands, focusing on suited connectors like Jack 10 and the challenges they present. He explains that while hitting top pair with these hands is good, it's crucial not to overcommit to large pots, as better hands can often be in play. The video illustrates how to handle different betting scenarios post-flop, emphasizing the importance of folding when faced with a competent player's aggressive play. Nathan also addresses the common mistake of overvaluing hands like King Jack, which can lead to significant losses against stronger hands on coordinated boards. He advises caution and strategic play to avoid falling into traps set by skilled opponents.
đ Free Poker Strategy: Small and Mid-Stakes Game Mastery
In the concluding part of the video, Nathan offers a free poker cheat sheet to help viewers improve their game, particularly at small and mid-stakes tables. He invites viewers to grab a copy from the top link in the video description, promising comprehensive strategies for all 169 hands in No Limit Texas Hold'em. Nathan wraps up the video with a reminder to like and subscribe for more helpful content and wishes viewers the best of luck at the poker tables.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄAce King
đĄContinuation Bet (C-Bet)
đĄPocket Sevens
đĄSuited Connectors
đĄDouble Barrel
đĄKing Jack
đĄAce Rag
đĄTop Pair
đĄMisplayed Hands
đĄPoker Strategy
Highlights
Ace King is not a drawing hand and is one of the strongest starting hands in poker.
With Ace King, if no one has a pocket pair, you likely have the best hand due to starting with the two highest cards.
A continuation bet with Ace King post-flop is recommended to maintain aggression and pressure on opponents.
Pocket sevens can win without improving, contrary to the belief that a set is necessary to win big pots.
Against a bet into pocket sevens on a flop without a seven, it's advisable to call rather than raise to keep potential bluffs in the pot.
Jack 10 suited is often overplayed; it's not a top pair hand and should be played cautiously post-flop.
When facing a double barrel (bet on flop and turn) with Jack 10 suited, it's often best to fold unless looking for a specific hand.
King Jack is the most commonly misplayed hand in poker, often leading to big losses due to overestimating its strength.
Against a tight player who raises on a coordinated board with King Jack, it's usually best to fold as they likely have a superior hand.
Ace rag hands (Ace with a low off-suit) are generally weak and should be played cautiously, often folding pre-flop unless in a stealing position.
Ace rag hands are at a significant disadvantage when facing a competent player with a better kicker post-flop.
The importance of recognizing the real strength of your hand and adjusting your play accordingly is emphasized throughout the transcript.
Continuation betting is a key strategy with strong hands like Ace King to maintain pressure and potentially win pots without showdown.
The transcript provides practical examples for each hand discussed, illustrating common mistakes and how to correct them.
A detailed strategy for playing specific hands like Ace King, pocket sevens, Jack 10 suited, King Jack, and Ace rag is provided.
The concept of 'double barrel' in poker is explained, highlighting its significance in hand evaluation and decision-making.
The transcript offers a free poker cheat sheet for further strategy insights, available via a link in the description.
Transcripts
what's going on guys Nathan here today
we're going to talk about the five poker
hands that you might be playing wrong
these are the top five hands that my
students in particular consistently play
wrong at the poker tables it costs them
a lot of money and it might be costing
you money as well so without any further
Ado let's jump into it counting down
from 5 to one here we go all right so
Hand Number Five Guys is Ace King now
the first thing you need to know guys is
that Ace king is not a drawing hand as a
lot of people like to think it is
instead the nut no pair and what I mean
by that is that when you have Ace King
if anybody else at the table does not
have a pocket pair for example they've
got Ace Jack or King Jack or 109 You by
default have a better hand because we're
always looking for the best five card
hand in poker and when you start with
the two highest cards Ace and King
you're already at a significant
Advantage so let me give you an example
here you raise it up pre flop with ace
of hearts King of Clubs in a regular
calls you so the Flop comes down with
the nine of diamonds six of Spades and
three of Spades what should you do well
guys if you've seen my videos here on
the channel before you already know that
I would strongly suggest making a cat
here which stands for continuation bet
you are continuing on the aggression
that you've already built before the
Flop by raising and now we're going to
apply additional pressure to them on the
Flop here and the reason why guys that
we want to be doing this is basically
just because of what I just said we are
ahead of any unpaired hand on this board
in fact we are way ahead of Ace Queen
Ace Jack king queen king Jack or queen
Jack these are all hands that players
will routinely call us with before the
Flop and when it comes with a harmless
flop like a 963 all of these hands are
way behind our Ace King so guys the key
takeaway here is to recognize that Ace
King is one of the strongest hands in
the game and even if you don't hit the
Flop there is a very good chance that
you still have the best hand so you want
to play this hand accordingly make a
strong bet and play like you have pocket
aces here let's move on to hand number
four that everybody plays wrong these
days and that is pocket sevens now guys
the thing you need to know about pocket
sevens is that this hand can win
unimproved a lot of people think that
they need to hit a set that there needs
to be a seven on the flop in order to
win a big pot with pocket sevens but
that simply is not the case let me give
you an example once again you've got two
red sevens the seven of hearts and seven
of diamonds and the Flop comes down with
the King of Hearts four of clubs and
Deuce of Spades so a fish bets into us
here what should you do well guys this
is a classic spot where you just want to
be calling there's not really any point
in raising here this a huge mistake that
I see especially with my students as
they make a raise here the reason why
you don't want to raise here guys is
that you're only going to get action
when they have the king and when they're
just bluffing here with a hand like Ace
8 for example you're just going to make
them fold so I hope you can see the
logic there's no benefit for us in
raising here but there's also no benefit
for us in folding because we know that
they have plenty of Bluffs in their
range like a 109 like an ace8 as we just
mentioned and therefore what you want to
do is just call in these situations to
keep those hands in the pot while we're
still way ahead let's move on to the
third hand that everybody plays wrong
these days and that is Jack 10 suited
now guys it does not matter if it is
Jack 10 of Hearts Jack 10 of SP aades
Jack 10 of clubs Jack 10 of diamonds
what you need to understand about Puda
connectors like this guys is that they
are not a top pair monster when you hit
Top pair with these hands guys it does
not mean it's time to party celebrate
and go all in this is the biggest
mistake that people make so let me give
you an example once again you call Pre
flop with Jack 10 of Hearts flop comes
down with a three of Hearts 10 of clubs
and seven of diamonds they make a bet
you call so guys in a situation like
this similar to the previous hand
there's not really any point for us to
be raising in this situation because
we're often only going to get action
from better hands like a pocket Jacks a
pocket Queens an ace 10 for example and
of course there's no point in US folding
either because we do still have top pair
but it is important to understand the
real strength of our hand in this
situation and what I mean by that is
understanding that we have a good but
not great hand so the turn comes with
the King of Spades and they bet again
what should you do well guys this is the
point where a a lot of people make a
mistake they go ahead and make a call
again here guys what you want to do
versus any competent player in this
situation is you need to be folding your
hand here decent players when they
double barrel you here and that's what
they've done here they've raised pre
flop they've bet the Flop and now
they're betting the turn this is called
a double barrel and poker and it is an
extremely strong play and basically what
they're representing here guys is a hand
like pocket aces pocket kings pocket
Queens pocket Jacks Ace 10 King 10 Queen
10 king queen or King Jack all of these
hands have you absolutely crushed on
this board guys the key takeaway here is
to always remember that with suited
connectors like this you are not calling
pre flop or raising preflop in order to
try to hit Top pair it's good if you hit
Top pair but you don't want to play a
massive pot with hands like this you're
really looking to hit a flush a straight
two pair trips something of that sort
guys always remember with hands like
this when you hit Top pair you want to
play a small pot if somebody is trying
to force you to play a big pot like in
this situation this is often a spot
where your hand is no good and you want
to be just folding all right guys let's
move on to the number two hand that
everybody plays wrong these days and
that is King Jack guys this hand is
literally the most misplayed hand in all
of Poker if I had a dime for every time
one of my students lost a big pot with
this hand I would be very very wealthy
no doubt so let me give you an example
once again you raise it up pray flop
with the King of Spades and the jack of
diamonds and the Flop comes down with
the Queen of Hearts Jack of clubs and
nine of diamonds so not a bad spot here
you decide to make a bet but they come
in for the rise what on Earth is going
on here guys well I'm going to tell you
straight up in this spot guys that
versus a tight player you should
absolutely be folding your hand here and
the reason why guys is because when a
tight player raises us on this highly
coordinated board and we only have
middle pair our hand shrinks
tremendously here they are representing
a range of hands that has us absolutely
crushed on this board let me run down
that range of hands for you this is
going to be hands like pocket aces
pocket kings ace queen or king queen
which both have top pair on this flop
Ace Jack which also has middle pair but
it has a higher kicker Than You Queen
Jack for two pair Jack n for bottom two
pair King 10 for the Flop straight or
108 for the Flop straight they could
also have pocket Queens pocket jacks or
pocket nines on this board for three of
a kind guys I hope that this rundown
basically gives you an idea that we have
like the 13th best hand on this board
and this is really the mistake that a
lot of people make is that when they hit
a strong pair with a hand like King Jack
is they immediately think that they've
got a monster guys you don't when a
tight player somebody who doesn't screw
around is trying to play a big p like we
just saw with the Jack 10 suited this is
often a clear indication that your hand
is is beat especially on one of these
highly coordinated boards like this
where there's a lot of straight
possibilities two pair possibilities so
guys be careful with a hand like King
Jack while it's great if you hit Top
pair it doesn't mean that you want to
play a big pot get all your money in the
middle because often if you're up
against a competent player they're going
to have one of these dozen or so hands
that are much better than yours all
right guys let's move on to the number
one hand now that everybody miss plays
and that is Ace Rag and Ace Rag and poke
is any hand like a ace2 offit ace3 offit
ace4 offit any hand like this and when I
say offit I mean that the cards are two
different suits so for example an ace of
hearts and a three of Spades guys what
you need to understand about these hands
is that they are largely pure trash
these are hot garbage let me give you an
example you call Pre flop with the Ace
of Hearts three of Spades and the Flop
comes down with the Ace of clubs five of
Spades and 10 of diamonds not a bad spot
a lot of amateurs look at this board and
they want to start throwing the party
they want to start celebrating we got
top pair this is amazing so they make a
bet you make the call let's go see the
turn turn comes with a nine of Hearts so
they make another betat here but uh you
know our amateur poker player friend is
still like well I still have top pair
here I got to make the call again guys
the river comes down with the six of
diamonds you already know they're going
to make another bed you're going to call
and you're going to end up losing a
massive pot versus a hand like Ace King
Ace Queen Ace Jack Ace 10 or 10 n guys
this in a nutshell here is the problem
with Ace rag hands they have a bad
kicker and therefore if you're up
against any kind of competent player if
you hit Top pair and they also hit Top
pair you're just setting yourself up for
disaster because they're going to show
up with one of these hands that is
significantly ahead of you that
basically has a better Kicker and you're
basically looking to hit your three and
there's only three more threes left in
the deck we don't need to be a math
genius to understand that those are not
going to come around very often so guys
I'm not saying to never play ace rag
hands like this yes if it's folded to
you on the button or in the small blind
for example you definitely should try to
steal the blinds or to raise the big
blind if you're in the small blind but
in most cases whether it's in a
tournament or a cash game you should not
be playing these hands you just want to
be folding preop guys do not make the
mistake of misplaying these five hands
like so many other players all right
guys like And subscribe if you found
this video helpful and by the way if you
want to know my entire strategy to CR
the small and mid-stakes games with all
169 hands in No Limit Texas hold him
make sure you grab a copy of my free
poker cheat sheet that'll be the top
Link in the description below thanks a
lot for watching guys all the best at
the poker taes
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